Pumpkin Poolooza at The Plunge in El Segundo

Most pumpkin patches are dirt and hay. This one floats. Pumpkin Poolooza is an annual autumn pool party at The Plunge where the pumpkins bob on the water and kids come to pick, decorate and splash. If you're collecting things to do with kids LA offers before Halloween, a wet and wacky Saturday afternoon is a solid candidate.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Where: The Plunge Price: $6 resident, $11 non-resident, $5 adult swimmer or helper Organizer: El Segundo Recreation, Parks & Library

What to expect

The organizers describe it as a floating pumpkin patch, and the flyer lists the lineup: pumpkin decorating, a bounce house, an aqua obstacle course and recreation swim. Games and raffles round out the two hours, so there is plenty to do whether your kid wants to stay in the water or stay dry and get creative with a pumpkin.

It is a small, community-run event rather than a big ticketed spectacle, which is part of the charm. Expect a lot of splashing, a lot of orange and the kind of frightening good time that suits younger children better than scary haunted houses do.

Registration and tickets

Registration happens online through the El Segundo Recreation site at esrec.org. The flyer lists three price tiers: $6 for residents, $11 for non-residents and $5 for an adult swimmer or helper. If you plan to get in the pool alongside your child, or need an adult to help a little one, that third tier is the one to pick. Questions go to 310-524-2738.

Tips for going

• Register before the day. The event is set up around online sign-up, so don't plan on a walk-up.
• Pack swim gear: suits, towels and a dry change of clothes for the ride home.
• Bring a sharpie or a favorite idea for your pumpkin. Decorating is the part kids tend to talk about afterward.
• The listing does not publish a street address, so check esrec.org or call the number above for directions and parking before you head out.

More to do this fall

If one afternoon at the pool isn't enough, family events Los Angeles hosts through October run from pumpkin races to carnivals. Browse our family category for more, and check the neighborhood pages for something closer to home.